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- The Online Reference Guide to World War II German Helmets 1933-1945

Collector Topics: Camouflage - M1940
Normandie Camouflage

Three color camouflage helmets
bearing tan, green, and brown are often described by collectors as "Normandie"
in nature. This is standard collector nomenclature referring
to a given helmet's origin. In the summer of 1944 many German
Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) helmets were painted in these colors as a
means of camouflage in the thick hedgerows of the French
countryside. The colors can vary dramatically in overall tone
from dark to very light. In addition, the colors are often
applied by hand or brush rather than spray gun. The helmet
below illustrates the typical "Normandie" pattern. The colors
were applied in a very thick fashion by paint brush as evidenced by
the small strokes left behind in the paint. The Army (Heer)
insignia was left exposed during the painting process.